Wordle today answer for Thursday, May 22 (#1433): Crack the clue, solve the word, and protect your streak before it slips

Wordle Hints and Clues for May 22, Puzzle #1433: Everything You Need to Know- If you’ve been scratching your head over today’s Wordle answer for May 22, puzzle #1433, you’re not alone. This one had a tricky twist — especially if you're not used to words ending in the letter “O.” In this guide, we’ll break down the clues, the final answer, and everything else you might need to crack the daily puzzle. Plus, we’ll also touch on recent Wordle solutions, useful starter words, and tips to improve your guesses.

Wordle hints for May 22

The New York Times provided several hints today to help nudge players toward the right answer:

• There is one repeated letter
  
  
• The word has two vowels, and one of them repeats
  
  
• It starts with F
  
  
• It ends in a vowel
  
  
• It's a term for a folded sheet of paper, often used in book printing
  

What is the answer to today’s Wordle for May 22?

Let’s get right to it — the answer to today’s Wordle (#1433) is FOLIO.

Yes, folio. It’s a real word, and while not one that comes up in everyday conversation, it’s certainly a valid guess. A folio typically refers to a sheet of paper folded once to make four pages — something you’d find in old books or publishing.

This word stumped many players because of its unusual ending and repeated vowel. But once you get into the breakdown, it starts to make sense.

Why was today’s Wordle answer tricky?

FOLIO isn’t a word most of us use daily. Here’s why today’s puzzle was especially tricky:

• ✅ Starts with the letter F
  
• 🔁 Contains a repeated vowel (the letter O)
  
• 🟦 Ends in a vowel — not common in many 5-letter guesses
  
• 📖 Unusual meaning — it refers to a type of book format or folded sheet of paper
  

Unless you’re into printing, publishing, or historical documents, “folio” might not be in your usual vocabulary. That’s exactly why so many players felt stuck on this one.

What was yesterday’s Wordle answer?

If you're catching up, the answer for Wordle #1432 on May 21 was ALARM. Much more common and straightforward compared to today’s word.

What have the recent Wordle answers been?

Here’s a quick recap of the last few Wordle solutions for context and maybe a pattern:

• May 17 (#1428) – GROWN
  
  
• May 18 (#1429) – LIVID
  
  
• May 19 (#1430) – PITCH
  
  
• May 20 (#1431) – BORNE
  
  
• May 21 (#1432) – ALARM
  
  
• May 22 (#1433) – FOLIO
  
  

It’s a diverse mix — action words, feelings, past participles, and now, a publishing term.

What are the best starter words for Wordle?

If you’re still hunting for that perfect starting word, here are a few popular options recommended by seasoned players and linguists:

• ADIEU – Great for quickly ruling out common vowels
  
  
• STARE – Covers common consonants and the high-frequency vowel “E”
  
  
• TRAIN – A well-rounded guess with common letters
  
  
• CLOSE – Includes S and E, which show up often
  
  
• NOISE – A balanced choice with two vowels and common consonants
  
  

The trick is to start with words that include E, A, R, O, T, N, S, and avoid rare letters like Q, Z, X, and J early on.

Was FOLIO a fair Wordle answer?

That depends on who you ask. While some found it too niche, others appreciated the curveball. Either way, it’s a reminder that Wordle is just as much about strategy as it is about vocabulary.

Remember, when you're stuck, the hints can help—but so can practicing with smart guesses and keeping track of past answers.

FAQs:

Q1: What is the Wordle answer for May 22?
The Wordle answer for May 22 is FOLIO.

Q2: Why was today’s Wordle (May 22) tricky?
Because FOLIO ends in a vowel and has a repeated letter.